How the 2025 MLB Awards Race Looks After the First Half

We’ve reached the official halfway point of the 2025 MLB season. But despite 50% of the season still lying ahead, several of the major award races are nearly wrapped. However, there’s plenty of intrigue among some of the other ones.

AL MVP

First, a look at the odds (per BetMGM Sportsbook) for the three best players, which we’ll put for every race:

Aaron Judge (-900)
Cal Raleigh (+375)
Jeremy Pena (+6600)

Assuming Aaron Judge stays healthy, this likely won’t be much of a race.

Judge, a two-time winner (2022, 2024) is on a clear path to win his third in 2025. The Yankees superstar is first in the Majors in OPS (1.180), second in home runs (28), and is currently the league leader in batting average (.361). He’s been the key cog for the Yankees this season, a team besieged by injuries to Jazz Chisholm Jr., Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole, etc.

Cal Raleigh could be a spoiler. Raleigh is currently MLB’s home run (32) and RBI (69) leader, and right now, is the only AL player ahead of Judge in either category.

The Mariners catcher’s been incredibly valuable for a Seattle team fighting for a playoff spot. But, it’ll be tough to beat Judge.

NL MVP

Much like the American League, this race isn’t close, either.

Shohei Ohtani’s been a sensation yet again, as the Dodgers’ two-way star blasted 28 home runs across his first 80 games, putting him on pace to get close to 60. However, the stolen base output (11) doesn’t come close to 2024, an expected instance given the shoulder injury Ohtani sustained in the 2024 World Series.

What might put Ohtani over the top is the fact that he’s back on the mound in Major League games. Granted, he’s only made one-inning appearances to this point. But, it doesn’t take away from Ohtani’s brilliance on both sides of the ball.

As of late June, the only player with a remote shot of catching up to Ohtani in the MVP race is Pete Crow-Armstrong. He’s the only player to get to 20-20 thus far, and 40-40 is a distinct possibility.

AL Cy Young

We now move to the Cy Young Awards, starting with the American League.

The AL has a lengthy list of potential 2025 winners, aside from the top three. Jacob deGrom, Max Fried, and even Joe Ryan have all had strong seasons. However, these three are here for a reason.

Let’s start with Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young winner. Skubal, as of June 26, possessed an obscene 125:13 K:BB ratio, mowing down hitters with efficiency while also limiting runners on base. The Tigers’ left-hander can also find a new gear when needed, hitting triple-digits to work off his incredible changeup.

Garrett Crochet, meanwhile, is the Majors’ leader in strikeouts (135). Crochet is on pace to smash through his 2024 innings total of 146, and, possibly, set a new career-high for strikeouts.

Then, there’s Hunter Brown. Brown, since the spring of 2024, has been one of the league’s premier pitchers. This season, Brown struck out 118 over his first 98 frames. And, he’s the MLB league leader in opponents’ batting average (.175).

NL Cy Young

Paul Skenes (-220)
Zack Wheeler (+400)
Logan Webb (+800)

For the last five years, Zack Wheeler has knocked on the door for a Cy Young Award. Wheeler finished runner-up twice between 2021-24 and this season, should easily be in the conversation. However, Wheeler’s always seemed to be behind one standout performer — and that could happen again in 2025.

Paul Skenes, one of the three finalists for the Cy Young last year, is the favorite in the sportsbooks. Skenes’ 2.12 ERA is first in the National League, as is his .177 opponents’ batting average. The Pirates’ ace continues to adapt, adding new pitches — this year, a true sinker to complement the “splinker” — and fooling hitters.

Wheeler, meanwhile, is first in the National League in strikeouts (126) and just behind Skenes in opponents’ average (.189) and WHIP (.93).

AL Rookie of the Year

Jacob Wilson (-800)
Nick Kurtz (+900)
Jac Caglianone (+1100)

As of late June, the American League Rookie of the Year race is a one-man show.

Jacob Wilson, the Athletics’ 2023 first-round pick, had arguably the best pure hit tool in that year’s MLB Draft. Wilson sped through the Minors to get called up after the 2024 All-Star Game and impressed before sustaining a strained left hamstring.

That injury helped Wilson preserve his rookie status and, in turn, gave him a clear shot at the award. Wilson hit .345 over his 77 games, thanks in large part to a short, clean swing and the ability to stay through the ball and keep the bat in the zone long enough. He’s picked up all kinds of hits this season, including nine home runs.

The one player who had a shot at catching up to Wilson was Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe. However, Jobe required Tommy John surgery after 10 starts this season.

NL Rookie of the Year

Out of the six major award races, this one is easily the most competitive.

It’s thanks to the fact that prior to June, no National League rookie took charge. Roki Sasaki, the presumptive favorite heading into 2025, dealt with major command problems and ultimately landed on the IL. He only made eight starts before being shut down with a right shoulder impingement.

Aside from Sasaki, his teammate Hyeseong Kim started 2025 in Triple-A after receiving a significant Major League deal last winter. Kim was promoted later in the spring but is a platoon player. Dylan Crews, another possible favorite, is also on the IL.

Which is why two of three favorites in the sportsbooks are power pitchers who weren’t even on a Major League roster until June.

Jacob Misiorowski’s been a revelation since the Brewers called him up. The right-hander regularly hits triple-digits and possesses one of the nastier cut/sliders you’ll find in the game. His stuff powered him to a 3-0 start to his MLB career, along with 19 strikeouts over 16 innings.

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